Chemistry Class Compares the Ratios of Moles of Iron to Copper

On Tuesday December 16 and Wednesday December 17, chemistry students completed a lab finding the mole measurements of iron and copper sulfate. The lab taught the students how to accurately measure substances in order to receive the best results.

Juniors Hannah White and Alexei Goldsmith-Solomon set up the apparatus for the experiment. The experiment consisted of reacting copper sulfate crystals and iron filings in water. Credit: Gillian Guerin for Manchester Essex Multimedia OnlineJunior Molly Lynch stirred the heated substance during the lab. It is important to continuously stir and to make sure that the substance does not boil in order to find the best results in this experiment. Credit: Gillian Guerin for Manchester Essex Multimedia OnlineThe students in the lab had to stir the copper sulfate and iron mixture while it was heating for ten minutes with a Bunsen burner. During this time, the reaction made the substance turn red and the water turn green. Credit: Gillian Guerin for Manchester Essex Multimedia OnlineAfter letting the copper sulfate dry overnight, the students weighed its mass on a balance. Chemistry labs usually take only one day but the class completed this lab in two days. Credit: Gillian Guerin for Manchester Essex Multimedia Online

After finding all of the data, the students in the class completed all of the calculations in their lab packets. Junior Caisi Calandra asked Chemistry teacher Keith Gray a question about how to find the ratio of moles of iron to the ratio of moles of copper. Credit: Gillian Guerin for Manchester Essex Multimedia Online